The founders of the Wu-Tang Clan were RZA, GZA, and Ol' Dirty Bastard, who had previously formed the group Force of the Imperial Master (later known as All In Together Now after the release of a popular single by that name). The group attracted the attention of some notable figures in the industry, including Biz Markie, but did not manage to secure a record deal. After the crew dissolved, GZA and RZA (then known as Prince Rakeem) embarked on their solo careers with Cold Chillin' Records and Tommy Boy Records respectively, but to little success. Their frustration with the workings of the hip hop music industry would provide the main inspiration to Wu-Tang Clan's revolutionary business plan. According to The Wu-Tang Manual, at the group's inception, RZA promised the members that if he had total control of the Wu-Tang empire, it would conquer the hip hop world within a dynastic cycle, after which he would relinquish his total control.
Wu-Tang Clan was gradually assembled in late 1992 from friends and accomplices from around Staten Island, New York, with RZA as the de-facto leader and the group's main producer. Two of the cousins, GZA (pronounced Jizza) and RZA (pronounced Rizza), created their new Wu-Tang aliases by mimicking the sound that the words "genius" and "razor" would make when scratched on a turntable.
"Wu-Tang" comes from the name of the Taoist holy mountain Wu Dang in northwest Hubei Province in central China; it was also the site of the Ming Dynasty Purple Imperial City built during the reign of the Yongle Emperor in the early 15th century. RZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard adopted the name for the group after seeing the kung fu film Shaolin and Wu Tang, which features a school of warriors trained in Wu-Tang style. The group's debut album loosely adopted a Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang theme, dividing the album into Shaolin and Wu-Tang sections and using dialogue excerpts as skits.
The group have also developed various backronyms for the name (as hip hop pioneers like KRS-One and Big Daddy Kane did with their names), including "We Usually Take All the Niggas' Garments," "Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game" and "Wisdom, Universe, Truth, Allah, Nation, and God".
Method Man has also mentioned that the "Wu" is the sound a sword makes when cutting through the air, and "Tang" is the sound it makes against a shield.
The Clan first became known to hip hop fans, and to major record labels, in 1993 (see 1993 in music) following the release of the independent single "Protect Ya Neck", which immediately gave the group a sizeable underground following. Though there was some difficulty in finding a record label that would sign Wu-Tang Clan while still allowing each member to record solo albums with other labels, Loud/RCA finally agreed, releasing their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), in late 1993. This album was popular and critically-acclaimed, though it took some time to gain momentum. Though hip hop had long had a gritty texture, the surreal aggression and minimalist production of 36 Chambers nevertheless had a huge impact on the genre, and was to prove massively influential over the next decade. By the beginning of the 21st century, the album had become a regular fixture on "Best Albums of the 90s" lists as well as a frequent choice for "Best Albums of All Time" lists. The success of Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) established the group as a creative and influential force in early 1990s hip hop, allowing GZA, RZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa to negotiate solo contracts.
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Evil Deeds FEAT. Ghostface Killah
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You have ways of killing without dealing a mob
Well so have I
Yeah, come on, what's the deal?
Yo, pockets is fat like the Good Year blimp
Hollow heads is sterilized in paroxide, waiting for you
So I can offer you a tummy tuck
See your stomach is stapled, it's on
It's dangerous down my alley, dog
It's like the halls and I'm outy, dog
Hear the shanks scratching the gate?
See the god Tone standing here for dolo, give you an '89 whooping
Leave your body looking like you was raped
And don't ever come at me sideways, hands in your pocket
'cause I will turn to Steven Segal, rip your arm out your socket
Ya'll little niggas watch it, I do this for free
Knocking rappers out, trust me, over a clown, I'm not here to make a profit
Nigga, if this was the arts, it be the best kung fu
And I'm Tone Yao Chin, serving ya'll wonton soup
I do shit like disarm a group, drink a 40 with him
And tell ya'll niggas stay the fuck out my loot
[Chorus]
My nina, my nine-ah, Medina, marauder
Sabrina, discard her, redeem her, for Allah
Supreme architecture, the beat spark connector
Inject in my serum, infiltrate in your sector
Bobby Steels keep steels concealed, be still
Leave you fifty shot banana clips with free refils
Guns bursting, one person is curtains for certain
Most often fill coffins, no nursing or surgeons
Is needed, bloods depleated, your body deleted
Like unsaved wav files, no way to retrive it
Best believe it, frosting the cat
I remember that, my moms put gunpowder inside my Similac
My brain is untamed, some claim, that's stunning strangers
'cause of my basement, I keep studios in gun ranges
Plus, I got more G's than Sicily
Pizzeria rotisserie, burn MC's out they misery
[Chorus]
Aiyo, Ghost, these niggas pussy, mind that take mine
I feel you, form on 'em, yeah, I ain't sharping nothing
I put it in they mouth, I have a nigga kiss the nine
I be mellow, next minute flip, like I just sniffed a line
Ya'll never committed crimes, your rap line forgery
Niggas want war, I invite all cordialy
They assed out morally, how they in skinny jeans
And never fix they mouth to even fucking go to war with me
Oh, that's how you feel, then handle that accordingly
Lay 'em out, bounce before the jake is even on to me
Lay back in the crib, your bitch give me orally
I don't want beef, I'm like Pookie, this is caling me
I ain't with that Twitter shit, nigga try to follow me
Watch you get hit like the Mega Million lottery
I don't got time to be, playing with you faggots
I'mma show you muthafuckas why the call me Havoc, H
So, these killings
When are they gonna come to an end?
Will he ever finish?
Probably the next to see, he must find the Lizard
[Chorus]
You just asked me, when will it end?
Hahahahaha, well let me tell you
Once an evil deed is done, then it never ends
It goes on, and it will go on forever
The opening lines of this song, “People have told me, You have ways of killing without dealing a mob/Well so have I,” set the tone for the darkness and violence to come. The song is a collaboration between the Wu-Tang Clan and Ghostface Killah, and it is filled with graphic descriptions of murder, torture, and gang violence. The lyrics paint a picture of a world where violence is an everyday occurrence and there is no escape from its horrors.
The first verse features Ghostface Killah rapping about his street credibility and his willingness to use violence to protect his reputation. He boasts about his wealth and power, and threatens anyone who challenges him. In the chorus, the group members rhyme about their guns, their connection to a higher power, and their dominance over the rap world. The verses that follow continue in the same vein, with violent descriptions of beatings, shootings, and other forms of brutality.
The song is a disturbing example of gangster rap, a subgenre of hip hop that began in the late 1980s and became increasingly popular in the 1990s. Gangster rap is characterized by its emphasis on the harsh reality of life on the streets, with lyrics that often glorify violence, drug use, and other illegal activities. While some critics argue that gangster rap promotes a culture of violence and contributes to the degradation of society, others point to its roots in poverty and racism and see it as a powerful form of social commentary.
Line by Line Meaning
People have told me
I've been hearing rumors about you
You have ways of killing without dealing a mob
You're known for your ability to commit murder without involving others
Well so have I
I'm capable of doing the same
Yo, pockets is fat like the Good Year blimp
My pockets are full of money
Hollow heads is sterilized in paroxide, waiting for you
I have guns loaded with bullets and waiting for you
Faggot niggas to jump off, your bullshit throne
I want you to step down from your fake position of power
So I can offer you a tummy tuck
I'll beat you up so badly that you'll need surgery to fix your stomach
See your stomach is stapled, it's on
You've had weight loss surgery and your stomach is stapled
It's dangerous down my alley, dog
My area is not safe
It's like the halls and I'm outy, dog
I'll be out of there quickly like a student skipping class
Hear the shanks scratching the gate?
Can you hear the sound of knives being sharpened?
See the god Tone standing here for dolo, give you an '89 whooping
I'm here by myself and I'm going to give you a beating like it's 1989
Leave your body looking like you was raped
I'll beat you up so badly that it will look like you were sexually assaulted
And don't ever come at me sideways, hands in your pocket
Don't try to confront me in a sneaky way with your hands in your pockets
'cause I will turn to Steven Segal, rip your arm out your socket
I'll be as brutal as Steven Segal and rip your arm out of its socket
Ya'll little niggas watch it, I do this for free
You should be careful because I'll beat you up without needing payment
Knocking rappers out, trust me, over a clown, I'm not here to make a profit
I'll beat up other rappers without getting any monetary gain, I just do it for fun
Nigga, if this was the arts, it be the best kung fu
If this was a competition, I would be the best
And I'm Tone Yao Chin, serving ya'll wonton soup
I'm like a chef, serving you guys something delicious and satisfying
I do shit like disarm a group, drink a 40 with him
I can disarm a group of people and then casually drink a 40-ounce beer with them
And tell ya'll niggas stay the fuck out my loot
I'm warning everyone to keep their hands off my money
[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus
My nina, my nine-ah, Medina, marauder
My gun is my protector and I'm attacking like a marauder
Sabrina, discard her, redeem her, for Allah
I'll throw away someone named Sabrina and then redeem her in the name of Allah
Supreme architecture, the beat spark connector
My rhymes are well-crafted and I connect with the beat perfectly
Inject in my serum, infiltrate in your sector
I'm spreading my message like a serum and infiltrating your area
Bobby Steels keep steels concealed, be still
My friend Bobby Steels keeps his guns hidden, and I'm telling everyone to be quiet
Leave you fifty shot banana clips with free refils
I have guns with 50-round magazines and extra ammo
Guns bursting, one person is curtains for certain
My guns are very powerful and can kill one person with ease
Most often fill coffins, no nursing or surgeons
People who I shoot usually end up dead and don't get to see doctors
Is needed, bloods depleted, your body deleted
I don't need to shed much blood to kill you, and afterwards, your body will disappear
Like unsaved wav files, no way to retrieve it
Your body will be gone forever, like unsaved computer files that can't be recovered
Best believe it, frosting the cat
You better believe it, I'm the king of the hill
I remember that, my moms put gunpowder inside my Similac
I remember when my mom put gunpowder in my baby formula
My brain is untamed, some claim, that's stunning strangers
My thoughts are wild and uncontrolled, which scares people who don't know me
'cause of my basement, I keep studios in gun ranges
I have recording studios in my basement, and also keep guns there
Plus, I got more G's than Sicily
I have more money than the Italian island of Sicily
Pizzeria rotisserie, burn MC's out they misery
I'll defeat other rappers with ease, like cooking pizza in a rotisserie oven
[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus
Aiyo, Ghost, these niggas pussy, mind that take mine
Hey, Ghostface Killah, these guys are cowards, be careful around them
I feel you, form on 'em, yeah, I ain't sharpening nothing
I understand, let's attack them, I don't need to prepare any weapons
I put it in they mouth, I have a nigga kiss the nine
I'll shove my gun in their mouth and force them to 'kiss it'
I be mellow, next minute flip, like I just sniffed a line
I can go from calm to angry in an instant, like someone who just snorted cocaine
Ya'll never committed crimes, your rap line forgery
I don't believe you when you say you've committed crimes, and I also think your raps are fake
Niggas want war, I invite all cordially
If people want to fight me, I'll invite them in a friendly way
They assed out morally, how they in skinny jeans
They have no sense of morality, and they also wear tight pants
And never fix they mouth to even fucking go to war with me
They don't even have the guts to confront me directly
Oh, that's how you feel, then handle that accordingly
If that's how you really feel, then do something about it
Lay 'em out, bounce before the jake is even on to me
Knock them out and leave the scene quickly, before the police arrive
Lay back in the crib, your bitch give me orally
I'll relax at home while your girlfriend gives me oral sex
I don't want beef, I'm like Pookie, this is calling me
I don't want any trouble, but I feel like I'm being drawn into it, like a character in a movie
I ain't with that Twitter shit, nigga try to follow me
I don't use social media, and if someone tries to follow me around, I'll get angry
Watch you get hit like the Mega Million lottery
If you keep bothering me, you'll get hit hard, like winning the lottery
I don't got time to be, playing with you faggots
I don't have time to waste on people I consider weak or cowardly
I'mma show you muthafuckas why the call me Havoc, H
I'll demonstrate why people call me Havoc
So, these killings
Referring back to the beginning of the song
When are they gonna come to an end?
When will the violence ever stop?
Will he ever finish?
Will the person who is committing these crimes ever stop?
Probably the next to see, he must find the Lizard
The next person to see the killer will probably be the next victim, and the killer's motive is unclear
[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus
Once an evil deed is done, then it never ends
Once someone does something terrible, the consequences will last forever
It goes on, and it will go on forever
The impact of evil deeds will last forever, and will never truly be resolved
Lyrics © MUSIC SERVICES, INC., Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GINTAS JANUSONIS, BORAHM LEE, WESLEY MINGUS, ARNOLD MISCHKULNIG, NOAH ELIOT RUBIN, DENNIS DAVID COLES, ROBERT F. DIGGS, KEJUAN WALIEK MUCHITA, ROBERT PERRY, JOSH D WERNER
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